System and Method for Controlling Audio Equipment

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for signal processing, wherein a disc is placed on a turntable and is provided with a groove which can be followed by the pick-up element, and employing a time-code signal wherein during use of the disc the said time-code signal controls the digital audio source.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/351,112 entitled “System and Method forControlling Play of Digital Audio Equipment”, filed on Jan. 16, 2012,which is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/630,323, entitled “Method for Signal Processing and an ApparatusTherefore”, filed on Dec. 3, 2009 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,097,800on Jan. 17, 2012, which is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/773,195, entitled “Method for Signal Processingand an Apparatus Therefore”, filed on Jul. 3, 2007 which is acontinuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/355,851,entitled “Disc For Use In An Apparatus For Signal Processing, And SuchAn Apparatus”, filed on Feb. 15, 2006, which is U.S. Pat. No. 7,238,874issued on Jul. 3, 2007, which is a divisional application of patentapplication Ser. No. 10/133,846, entitled “Disc For Use In An ApparatusFor Signal Processing, And Such An Apparatus”, filed on Apr. 26, 2002,which is U.S. Pat. No. 7,012,184 issued on Mar. 14, 2006, which is aContinuation of International Application Number PCT/NL01/00055 filed onJan. 26, 2001 entitled “Disc For Use In An Apparatus For SignalProcessing, And Such An Apparatus”, which is a continuation and claimspriority to The Netherlands application number NL 1014526, entitled“Disc For Use In An Apparatus For Signal Processing, And Such AnApparatus”, filed Feb. 29, 2000. The specifications and claims thereofare incorporated herein by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

INTRODUCTION

The invention primarily relates to a disc for use in an apparatus forsignal processing. Further, the invention relates to such an apparatusfor signal processing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

From WO 97/01168, a system is known for the digital processing of audiosignals which is particularly suitable for disc jockeys and scratchartists. The speed and direction of a digital audio signal, for instancederived from a CD player, can be controlled according to this citationby the manual control of a rotational element. This rotational elementis placed for instance on a turntable of a conventional record playerand is being read by means of an optical sensor determining the speedand direction of rotation of the turntable. The data that are obtainedthereby are being used to control the speed and direction ofreproduction of the CD player. The problem associated with this knownapparatus is, however, that it is hardly usable by disc jockeys and inscratch applications for the reason that from a given position of thereading head of the CD player only continuously developing relativemovements are possible that depend on the control of the earliermentioned rotational element. In the known apparatus, it is for instancenot possible to make swift reproductions of different musical segmentson the CD in a way that is reproducible and can be controlledsatisfactorily. Also the authentic scratch sound which can be realizedby means of a conventional record, cannot be obtained with the knownapparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

With the invention it is intended to improve this and to provide asystem which allows to provide a sound impression with a digital soundsource which conforms to the possibilities that exist with conventionalrecords, and with which quickly digitally recorded (musical) fragmentscan be located.

In a first aspect of the invention, a disc is proposed therefore whichis designed for use in such an apparatus for signal processing, suchthat the disc during its use is placed on the turntable and is providedwith a groove which can be followed by the pick-up element, and whichcomprises a time-code signal wherein during use of the disc the saidtime-code signal controls the digital audio source.

A practical embodiment of the disc is characterized in that the time-code signal is an absolute time-code signal that is comprised in thegroove in a predetermined number subsequently arranged discrete steps.It is advisable to select the number of discrete steps in such way thatthe resolution is sufficiently high to realize the intended effect. Inpractice this means that the number of discrete steps may count five persecond.

From a view point of cost efficiency and also to make a naturalconnection to the known scratching techniques with conventional records,it is desirable that the time-code signal is modulated on a carrierfrequency in the audible range between 20 and 20,000 Hz. In this way, itis possible to simply use normal audio equipment for playing the disc.

In a further aspect of the invention, the apparatus for signalprocessing is so equipped that the pick-up element feeds a digitalfilter which has a phase-locked loop circuit for detecting and followinga carrier frequency, and a demodulation circuit for demodulating thetime-code signal that is modulated on the carrier frequency. The discand the apparatus for signal processing can then cooperate such that theabsolute time-code signal that is present on the disc, provides thecontrol for the digital audio source.

It is further advantageous that the groove of the disc comprises atime-code signal in both the left and the right channel, which aremutually shifted in phase. In this way, a quick determination of thedirection in respect of the rotation of the disc can be extracted.

Appropriately then the apparatus is equipped with a detection device fordetermining a phase difference between the time-code signal demodulatedfrom the left and the right signal, respectively. In this way, thedesired direction of play of the digital audio equipment can bedetermined already when the needle is lowered onto the disc according tothe invention without noticeable delay, enhancing the impression thatone is working with an entirely conventional analogue audioinstallation.

A suitable embodiment of the apparatus is characterized in that itcomprises a digital audio buffer being under control of the time-codesignal, and that the digital audio buffer is connected to a digitaloutput filter which feeds a signal output which is selected from thegroup formed by a digital electric output socket, a digital optic signaloutput, and a D/A converter.

The scratch effect can be manufactured in such an apparatus particularlyadequately when it comprises control logic being fed by the time-codesignal for determining a velocity signal being a measure for the speedof change of the time-code signal, and that the digital output filter isbeing controlled by the said control logic.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be further elucidated in respect of anon-limiting embodiment explaining the disc and its use in an apparatusaccording to the invention in a schematic diagram.

FIG. 1 shows schematically the apparatus for signal processing accordingto according to one embodiment of the present invention and the disc tobe used thereby.

FIG. 2 show as block diagrams the signal processing applied in theapparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 then show as block diagrams the signal processing applied in theapparatus according to according to one embodiment of the presentinvention the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a disc 1.1 which is manufactured according to knownmanufacturing techniques that have been in use for many years now in themanufacture of conventional records. The disc 1.1 is provided with anabsolute time-code signal by making use of a time-code generator 1.2controlling a modulator 1.3 which supplies a carrier frequency modulatedby the time-code generator 1.2 and which is applied to the disc 1.1 asthe only signal. Block 1.4 shows the conventional manufacturing methodof recording, making of the master disc, and pressing the final vinyldisc 1.1. The disc 1.1 can be placed on a turntable 1.5 of a recordplayer 1.6, which is further provided with an arm 1.7 and a pick-upelement 1.8.

The pick-up element 1.8 can follow the groove in the disc 1.1 thatcomprises the absolute time-code signal, and the pick-up element 1.8 isconnected to the apparatus part 1.9 for demodulating the carrier signalin order to provide the (digital) time-code signal, which serves for thecontrol of the digital audio source 1.10, for instance a CD player, aDVD player, an MP3 reproduction device, or the like.

The operation of the apparatus part 1.9 according to FIG. 1 willhereafter be further elucidated with reference to FIG. 2. The operationof the digital audio source 1.10 which stands under control of thetime-code signal will hereafter be further elucidated with reference toFIG. 3.

Referring now first to FIG. 2, it is shown that the signal that isderived from the pick-up element 1.8 according to FIG. 1, is fed to ainput buffer 2.1 from which a signal may be finally led to a mixingtable 2.2 in order to provide for the situation that the turntable 1.5according to FIG. 1 carries a conventional analogue vinyl record. Thejust- mentioned input buffer 2.1 feeds a preamplifier 2.3, provided witha low rejector circuit, and which feeds in turn an analogue/digitalconverter 2.4, for instance a 16-bit or 20- bit converter, depending onthe desired resolution. The reference numerals 2.5, 2.6 and 2.7 refer toa digital filter, the operation of which depends on, inter alia, thespeed of movement of the disc 1.1 according to FIG. 1 vis-a-vis thepick-up element 1.8. The apparatus part 2.7 of FIG. 2 may comprise aphase-locked loop circuit for detecting and following the carrierfrequency which is provided on the disc 1.1 according to FIG. 1. In thecurrent implementation, however, use is made of a moving average filtersupplemented with detection means for detecting a stand-still of thedisc 1.1. Furthermore, demodulation takes place in the circuit ofapparatus part 2.6 for demodulating the time-code signal that ismodulated on the carrier frequency. Although the above subject matter isshown and explained as the signal in a single channel, it is preferableaccording to the invention that a left and a right channel is present,and that the detection apparatus which forms part of the digital filter2.5, 2.6, 2.7 is made in duplicate so as to allow a phase differencebetween the left and the right channel carrying the demodulatedtime-code signal to be determined. In this manner, the correct place anddirection of movement of the disc 1.1 in relation to the pick-up element1.8 according to FIG. 1 can be determined with high resolution.

The phase difference between the left and right channel is useful toextract the directional information very quickly when the pick-upelement 1.8 is suddenly lowered onto the rotating disc 1.1. The absolutetime-code which is determined from the carrier frequency is subsequentlyused together with the relative time-code, which is based on thedifference between the left and the right channel, to determine anaccurate time-code signal 2.10 which serves to control the digital audiosource 1.10 as shown in FIG. 1. The time-code signal 2.10 of FIG. 2 istherefore read into apparatus part 3.1 (see FIG. 3) of the digital audiosource, wherein same provides a direct control of a digital audio reader3.2 reading the desired digital information from the correct place offor instance a CD disc. This digital audio information is beingtransferred from apparatus part 3.2 to a digital output filter 3.5 whichis being controlled by control logic 3.4, and which determines from thetime-code signal which is read into apparatus part 3.1, the speed ofchange of the time-code signal. This speed of change signal which isderived from the time-code signal, determines the parameters of thedigital output filter 3.5. In a manner known to the expert, the digitaloutput filter 3.5 can then feed a digital electric output socket, adigital optical signal output, or a D/A converter. This last provisionis shown in the Figure with reference numeral 3.6.

The present invention has been described in terms of preferredembodiments, however, it will be appreciated that various modificationsand improvements may be made to the described embodiments withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention.

1. A system for controlling play of audio equipment, the systemcomprising: a disc including a control signal indicative of at leastspeed of disc play and directionality of disc play, the disc rotating ona turntable, wherein the disc includes a carrier frequency with anabsolute control signal, in the audible range between 20 and 20,000 Hz;a digital filter processing the control signal to determine a relativecontrol signal based on a phase difference between a left channel and aright channel of the control signal, wherein the relative control signalindicates directionality of disc movement; and an output filterutilizing the absolute control signal and the relative control signal todetermine an accurate control signal serving to control play of audioequipment.
 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein controlling playof the audio equipment includes controlling the speed of play of theaudio equipment.
 3. The system according to claim 1, wherein controllingplay of the audio equipment includes controlling the direction of playof the audio equipment.
 4. The system according to claim 1, wherein theplace of play on the audio equipment is determined.
 5. The systemaccording to claim 1, wherein play of the audio equipment comprises theplay of music.
 6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the audioequipment comprises a CD player, a DVD player, or an MP3 player.
 7. Amethod for controlling play of audio equipment, the method comprising:rotating a disc on a turntable; deriving absolute control signals fromthe rotating disc in the audible range between 20 and 20,000 Hz;determining relative control signals based on a phase difference betweena left channel and a right channel of the control signals; utilizing theabsolute control signals and the relative control signals to control atleast the speed of play and the direction of play of the audioequipment.
 8. An apparatus for using control signals to determine playof audio equipment, the apparatus comprising: a rotational device; adisc, which when processed on the rotational device, provides signals tocontrol play of audio equipment, wherein the disc comprises: absolutecontrol signals indicative of the speed and the directionality of discplay on the rotational device; an analog/digital converter convertingthe control signals to digital control signals; a digital filterprocessing the converted control signals to determine relative time-codesignals by detecting a phase difference between a right channel and aleft channel, wherein the relative time-code signals are determinativeof the direction of movement of the disc, wherein the digital filterutilizes the absolute control signals together with the relativetime-code signals to determine accurate time-code signals; and an outputfilter utilizing the accurate time-code signals to determine play ofaudio equipment.
 9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein play ofthe audio equipment comprises a CD player, a DVD player, or an MP3player.
 10. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein play of theaudio equipment includes producing a scratch sound effect based on thespeed and direction of play of the disc.
 11. The apparatus according toclaim 8, wherein the place of play on the audio equipment is determined.